Album Reviews

Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jason Lytle – Yours Truly, The Commuter
8.5
 on
Friday, June 19, 2009 - 00:00
submitted by
Thomas

After saying goodbye to his trusty beard, Jason Lytle did the same with his old band, packed up his belongings and moved to Montana after having recorded one last album with Grandaddy. “Just Like A Fambly Cat” was a concept album that mirrored reality and told about being in a band that’s about to implode. It lacked all sense of joy and saying that Grandaddy already didn’t sound all that happy to begin with is a mild understatement.

Once in Montana, Lytle finally managed to battle his depression (the album opens with the words'Last thing I heard I was left for dead / Like I give two shits about what they said / I may be limping but I'm coming home') and then found out that not being in a band doesn’t automatically mean you don’t want to make music anymore. And so he started writing again with “Yours Truly, The Commuter” as a result.

You can still hear Grandaddy all over this album but it’s a more matured version. Or as the memo in the booklet states: no more weird arrangements… not on this album! Very simple, very nice, rich, big but with enough little “fucked things”! It sums it up nicely.

Lyrically Lytle isn’t breaking any new ground either but at least the guy sounds happier… or hopeful. “I Am Lost (And The Moment Cannot Last)” and “Fürget It” are examples of songs written by someone who is still struggling to find reasons to be happy. But at least he is trying this time around which makes me happy for him and grateful because he gave us yet another amazing album that ends with “Here For Good”… a promise I’ll hold him to!

Tom Dumarey
Tom Dumarey

Lacking the talent to actually play in a band, Tom decided he would write about bands instead. Turns out his writing skills are mediocre at best as well.